We're here to help

If you've any questions about this holiday call our sales team on 1-800-567-6286

Explore one of the most fascinating corners of the Dordogne on this varied and flexible, walking, cycling and canoeing holiday. The Perigord Noir, arguably one of the most attractive parts of the Dordogne, is named as such for its rich dark oak and chestnut forests which fill the very heart of this region. The area offers spectacular scenery with ancient chateaux perched high above the rugged cliffs overlooking the entire valley. You'll find mediaeval villages full of character and a plethora of historical sites including the Benedictine Abbaye Sainte-Marie in Souillac, founded during the C12 and which suffered badly during the Hundred Years' War.

On foot, bike and by canoe, venture through the Perigord experiencing what this picturesque region has to offer. You have total flexibility with the choice of either walking or cycling routes when you're not canoeing. The canoeing is safe and undemanding, and we will give you a lesson in handling your canoe before you set off. Your journey starts in Martel, a picturesque town also known as 'la ville aux sept tours' or the town of seven towers, moving on to Meyronne, on the banks of the Dordogne. From here you pick up your paddle, canoeing downstream to Souillac and on to Beynac with its hilltop castle, captured by Richard the Lionheart in 1179, finally arriving in mediaeval Sarlat.

You will stay in characterful *** hotels throughout, all with private swimming pools. These range from a stunningly converted C11 chateau to a panoramic country house, set in its own private parkland. You'll enjoy delicious evening meals in this area renowned for its gastronomic traditions.

NB: All customers must be able to swim at least 50m fully clothed. We provide 2/3 person canoes (minimum age 8 years). Single-person kayaks are also available if specified when you book. Only suitable for children over 12 unless experienced. Should the river, at any point, be deemed too high to safely canoe, we will provide Headwater bikes at no extra charge for all days affected.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Martel

Arrive at your *** hotel, a former convent school in 7000m2 of private gardens. (Staying at Relais St Anne, Half board)

Today, walkers will enjoy wonderful 360° views from the summit of Mont Mercou, along with views over the Dordogne Valley, while cyclists will pass the lovely village of Gluges, on the banks of the Dordogne River. Before you leave Martel, why not explore its mediaeval streets, in particular the Palais de la Raymondie and the Place de la Halle? (Staying at Hotel La Terrasse, Half Board)

Day 3 - At Meyronne

You have lots of choices today. Either relax by the hotel pool or walk south of the river to Rochers Ste Marie and the Grottes de Lacave. If you prefer to cycle (or use our walking route notes) head to the town of Rocamadour, home to the shrine of the Black Madonna and one of France's most venerated religious sites. Alternatively, travel by taxi to the Gouffre de Padirac, an enormous chasm where you descend into an underground cave system which you then explore by boat along the subterranean stream. (Staying at Hotel La Terrasse, Half Board)

Day 4 - Meyronne to Souillac canoe 17km/11mi (4-5hr)

We meet you after breakfast for your briefing and canoeing lesson before you set off on this easy paddle, taking you below pinky-gold cliffs with buzzards and kites soaring overhead and the imposing chateaux of Belcastel and de la Treyne (to name but two), perched up high above the river. (Staying at La Vielle Auberge, Half Board)

Day 5 - At Souillac

Wander round this bustling town, people watch or visit the Musee de l'Automate which holds the largest collection of mechanical toys and dolls in France. You might also like to walk to La Durantie for some of the most stunning views along the Dordogne Valley or cycle to the Chateau de Fenelon, a Cathar stronghold during the C12 and C13. There is also the option to cycle to the impressive Jardins de Cadiot made up of ten gardens within two hectares of land - the choice is yours! (Staying at La Vielle Auberge, Half Board)

Day 6 - Souillac to Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse canoe 20km/12.5mi (4-5hr)

Its gentle paddling again today down to Grolejac through the heart of peaceful and prosperous Perigord countryside, leaving plenty of time for swimming, picnicking or just lazing by the river. We pick you up and take you to the tranquil Chateau de Monrecour where you stay for the next two nights. (Staying at Chateau De Monrecour, Half Board)

Day 7 - At Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse

Stroll to Beynac and climb the steep footpath lined with C15-C17 stone houses up to the spectacular C13 hilltop chateau; the reward for your effort is the breathtaking view of the serpentine sweep of the river. Or you could visit the beautiful Jardins de Marqueyssac and the impressive Chateau de Castelnaud (approximately 6km/4mi away). (Staying at Chateau De Monrecour, Half Board)

Today you can choose to go on foot or pedal through pretty villages and shaded woods before arriving at mediaeval Sarlat with its Renaissance facades and richly ornamented buildings now protected by law. Wander through the narrow streets, discovering ancient courtyards as you peep through ornate archways, then its on to the tranquility of the Maison des Peyrat in time for a last dip in the pool before going to dinner in Sarlat itself. (Staying at Hotel Le Renoir, Breakfast only)

Day 9 - Leave Sarlat

Please note that cycling helmets are compulsory in France for children under 12. As we are unable to provide these, we strongly recommend that you bring your own.

Where you stay

During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking. You can call our sales team on 1-800-567-6286 to discuss accommodation options.

Relais Sainte-Anne, Martel (***)

NEARBY:

The rooms in the charming Relais Sainte-Anne are tastefully decorated with antique furniture. The grounds include a pool and extensive gardens to wander and relax in. Evening meals can be taken on the terrace in good weather.

All prices shown above are valid from 08/06/2017. Prices are per person per night based on 2 sharing.

Please contact us for extra night prices.

Hotel La Terrasse , Meyronne (***)

NEARBY:

The Hotel La Terrasse, ideally situated overlooking the Dordogne, is a converted C11 château, which has survived in spite of the turbulent history of the region. It was converted into a hotel in the 1920s by the Liebus family - who still own the hotel - but it still retains many of its original features - wooden beams, exposed stone walls, stone fire places and stone spiral stairwell. Period furniture completes the impressive, yet comfortable, interior.

Your evening meal is taken in the hotel's restaurant, where the menu reflects the local specialities. If you eat on the hotel's terrace, you'll also get to savour views over the river!

All prices shown above are valid from 21/08/2017. Prices are per person per night on a half board.

Château de Monrecour, Saint Vincent de Cosse (***)

NEARBY:

The Château de Monrecour is located in Saint Vincent de Cosse, just a few kilometres from stunning Beynac.

The guest rooms are all traditionally decorated and are equipped with a private bathroom, free WI-Fi access and a TV.

The hotel also has a swimming pool and a large south-facing terrace where you can enjoy a drink after your walk.

Breakfast is served in the château's ballroom, which is decorated with tapestries and features a large stone fireplace. During nice weather, guest can enjoy breakfast on the terrace, which has a view of the C15 Chateau des Milandes.

The evening meals are served in the hotel restaurant and are a real treat: be prepared to sample local dishes all prepared with fresh products.

All prices shown above are valid from 09/06/2017. Supplements are per person per night based on 2 sharing.
Deluxe rooms are larger rooms with 4 poster bed and jet shower.

Please contact us for extra night prices.

Hotel Maison des Peyrat, Sarlat (***)

NEARBY:

The Hotel de Charme, with a seasonal heated outdoor swimming pool, is a stylish quirky property located just outside Sarlat. There is a garden with terrace and outdoor furniture and free Wi-Fi access is available.There is also a bar and a small library. Rooms here will provide you with a flat-screen TV. In the morning at Hotel Maison ses Peyrat, guests can enjoy a large continental breakfast. Evening meal in Sarlat (not included).

All prices shown above are valid from 21/08/2017. Prices are per person per night on a B&B basis.

Extending your stay

If you'd like to extend your trip with extra nights at the start or end, or if you'd like to arrange a stop off point en-route, then we recommend the following hotels.

Hotel Le Senat , Paris (****)

The 4* Le Senat is simply stunning! There are just 41 rooms, all stylishly furnished and a couple of suites with terraces, if you really fancy splashing out! All have satellite television, mini bar, air-conditioning, safe and hairdryer, plus Internet access.

The hotel has its own small bar - adorned with photographs of eminent artists, being in the heart of the artists' quarter - plus a reading room with complimentary internet access.

Breakfast is taken in the basement, where you'll find a copious buffet of viennoiseries, cereals, fruit salad, ham, cheese, bread, yoghurt, bacon, eggs, sausage, fruit juices, tea or coffee. If you prefer, you can have a continental breakfast served to your room at no extra charge.

Le Senat is perfectly located on a quiet side street just a stone's throw away from the Luxembourg Gardens and metro, and a five-minute walk from the vibrant Latin quarter, where you'll find a plethora of restaurants to suit all budgets.

All prices shown above are valid from 21/06/2017. Supplements are per person per night based on 2 sharing.
Deluxe rooms are larger with a sitting area. Some also have a small terrace.

Dates

Superior double/twin

Superior for single use

09/03/2017 - 03/01/2017

£98

£178

04/04/2017 - 15/05/2017

£106

£196

16/05/2017 - 19/05/2017

£158

£300

20/05/2017 - 18/06/2017

£126

£236

19/06/2017 - 25/06/2017

£158

£300

26/06/2017 - 15/07/2017

£126

£236

16/07/2017 - 04/09/2017

£94

£182

05/09/2017 - 18/09/2017

£126

£236

19/09/2017 - 21/09/2017

£160

£316

22/09/2017 - 25/09/2017

£126

£236

26/09/2017 - 04/10/2017

£160

£316

05/10/2017 - 31/10/2017

£126

£2236

All prices shown above are valid from 21/06/2017. Prices are per person per night including breakfast.

Hôtel Père Léon, Toulouse (***)

The Hôtel Père Léon is ideally situated just a short walk from the historic centre of Toulouse, with the main sights just a short walk away. Just 50 metres from the metro, there is easy access to the rest of the city. The hotel is in Place Esquirol, a bustling, lively square and in close proximity to many bars and restaurants.

The hotel itself has a modern contemporary feel, which has been recently renovated. The ensuite rooms have soundproof windows and all mod cons. Breakfast is a buffet affair with a good choice of French staples, and a hot section.

The hotel has its own bistro restaurant with seats outside where you can enjoy a drink or dinner.

All prices shown above are valid from 09/06/2017. Supplement is per person per night based on 2 adults sharing. The deluxe room is larger than the standard room.

Dates

Double/Twin room

Single room

01/05/2017 - 14/07/2017

£62

£96

15/07/2017 - 31/08/2017

£58

£84

01/09/2017 - 31/10/2017

£62

£96

All prices shown above are valid from 09/06/2017. Prices are per person per night on B&B basis.
Prices 01/05/2017-14/07/2017 and 01/09/2017-31/10/2017 are for stays Monday-Thursdays. For stays Friday-Sunday in this period prices are £48pppn in a double and £74pppn in a single.

Travel

Transfers included from Souillac train station at 16:47 Mon-Thurs & Sat, 15:25 Fri and 15:29 Sun and back to Souillac train station at 12:30 Mon-Fri, 11:30 Sun and back to Brive at 10:45 Sat.

Reviews

Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus, of course, an overall rating and comments about their holiday.

Any feedback collected is posted straight to our website - totally unedited. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

Mr Warrell06/09/2017

We liked the multi activity holiday, walking, cycling and canoeing.

It would be good if you offer more of these type of holidays.

On the last day we did the cycling. It is quite a long day and at the end the hotel is up a very steep and long hill. We felt it was a bit too steep to be enjoyable.

Once there the hotel is a little bit disappointing, especially after the ChÃ¢teau for the two nights before.

Everything else was good.

Miss Hillier24/08/2017

A relaxing holiday with positive together time as a family - nothing gets everyone working together as well as arguing more - than getting lost in the Dordogne countryside an hour before lunch !

Mrs Romanus06/08/2017

We last took on a headwater holiday15 years. Now we have an 8 year old daughter and 11 year old son. The dordogne was lush, warm and beautiful. The reps were helpful and knowledgable. The hotels were very french with great food. The activities were well balanced with relaxation at the pool. Super holiday i hope we dont wait another 15 years.

Mr Stocks03/09/2016

Headwater provide gently active (this interpretation depends on one's level of fitness and expectation!) holidays in comfortable, interesting hotels and places. The restaurants vary, some are better than others, but in general they reach a very satisfactory standard. I think they are a great way to spend time exploring an area but with always the fall back of a pleasant hotel.

Dr Monte18/08/2016

We had a wonderful mixed activity holiday cycling and canoeing down the Dordogne knowing we had excellent food and drink to look forward to after a hard days work. Pure bliss !!

Mrs Moss10/08/2016

We have just returned from an excellent 10 days in France, having never been to this area before, we now are keen to return! The walking and cycling was definitely 2 boot, but worth the climbs. And we really enjoyed the relaxed canoeing down The Dordogne. All hotels were excellent with fabulous food. Sarlet is very pretty and well worth the extra night, although it is a long climb up back to the hotel from the town.

Excellent holiday.

Mrs Saxby02/08/2016

As a family of six, headwater is a great holiday choice for us. We enjoy spending the time together and the activities give us a shared focus and shared sense of achievement. The children age between 16 and eight, and they all enjoyed the holiday. It challenged their palates as well as their legs, as most of the hotels don't offer kids menus, but this worked out fine and they all discovered things they didn't know they might like. Canoeing was harder work than expected, but such a beautiful w... read moreay to see the river. I really love headwater holidays, this is our third time and it definitely won't be our last. Now that all the children are confidently able to cycle we will try some more ambitious ones next time.

Mr Dransfield05/10/2015

Excellent, good location, helpful reps, fantastic hotels, good food, well maintained equipment with all necessary ancillaries. It all makes to an active but stress free holiday.

Mr Dale10/09/2015

Fantastic. The whole experience was wonderful. Travel was smooth - the 'local reps (Keith and Claire) were lovely, informed, committed and really, really nice couple. The itinerary was easy to follow and worked very well. Food superb and hotels great. thank you

Mr Crockford17/08/2015

A brilliant and well thought out holiday, with super routes and excellent hotels - well worth adding extra days to.

Mr Wilson11/08/2015

An excellent family activity holiday with a lovely range of hotels and universally excellent food. Chateau de Monrecour was a particular highlight. Look at the cycling routes carefully and plan the day especially with regard to food stops and water refills.

Mrs Middleton10/08/2015

The holiday offered varied activities which were not too strenuous, although you needed some degree of fitness to enjoy them. The support offered by the local reps was excellent as was the food at the various hotels.

Mr Robertson03/08/2015

Excellent Holiday with easy walking and kayaking

Dr McGeorge30/07/2015

A wonderfully relaxing holiday featuring the opportunity to mix a range of outdoor activities in a beautiful part of France with the chance to explore its towns, villages, sights and cuisine.

Dates and prices

You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday. Find out about The Headwater Price Promise to ensure you're getting the very best value for money.

For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-567-6286 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).

If you'd like to enquire about dates and prices for 2018 departures, please call our knowledgeable sales team on 1-800-567-6286, or use our enquiry form.

The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.

Due to the tailor-made nature of our holidays, we need a little more information in order for us to check availability for Dordogne Activities. Simply complete the form below and a member of our sales team will contact you (when it's most convenient for you) to provide availability information, travel options and an accurate price. Of course there's no obligation, but if you do wish to proceed with a booking they will be on-hand to assist you throughout the process.

Alternatively, you can call our sales team on 1-800-567-6286 to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Your name •

Daytime telephone number •

Email address •We'd like to keep you informed of our latest news and special offers. Please tick here if you'd rather not receive our free e-newsletter.

Departure date •

How many people •

Include travel in the quote We can often obtain preferential rates with our travel partners.

Preferred departure airport

When should we contact you We can call you when it's most convenient for you, or contact you by email if you'd prefer. During busy periods we cannot always guarantee a specific call time but we promise to try our very best.

Additional information Let us know any queries you might have about departure dates, similar holidays or other questions. If you’d like to travel by an alternative method, i.e. Ferry / Eurotunnel etc. please give details here so we can advise you on appropriate options.

Headwater may use the information you provide for marketing and promotional purposes. By clicking the 'Enquire now' button, you confirm that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy and consent to our use of your information.

Calls to our 01606 number from UK landlines cost the standard rate, but calls from mobiles may be higher. Please check with your network provider.
Many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate